RAPTORS-TIMBERWOLVES PREGAME NOTES

GAME #57 – TORONTO RAPTORS (31-25) at MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (30-27)
WDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2022 – 8 P.M. (ET) – TARGET CENTER
TV: TSN – RADIO: SPORTSNET 590 THE FAN

The Toronto Raptors (31-25) finish play before the All-Star break Wednesday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves (30-27) at Target Center. The Raptors have lost consecutive games (Feb. 12-14) following
an eight-game winning streak – their longest of the season. Toronto is 10-11 vs. the Western Conference this season, after going 10-20 against the West in 2020-21.
• Fred VanVleet scored a team-high 20 points Monday at New Orleans. VanVleet has now scored 20+ points in a career-high seven straight games played (Feb. 1-12), averaging 22.0 points and shooting .457 (32-70) from three-point range during this stretch. He sat out Feb. 10 at Houston with left groin soreness.
VanVleet connected on four three-pointers against the Pelicans and has now made 201 threes this season third most in a season in Raptors history; behind only Kyle Lowry (238 in 2017-18 & 212 in 2015-16).
• Pascal Siakam is currently averaging 22.0 points, and career highs of 8.7 rebounds and 5.1 assists, in 43 games this season. He is one of just six players in the NBA averaging 20.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists, along with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, James Harden, Nikola Jokic & Dejounte Murray.
• Timberwolves Head Coach Chris Finch was hired midway through last season after spending the first half of the season as an assistant coach on Nick Nurse’s staff. Nurse and Finch have a relationship that goes
back decades when both were coaching in the British Basketball League in the mid-1990s. Finch was also head coach of Britain’s team at the 2012 London Olympics where Nurse was one of his assistants.
• The Raptors set season lows shooting .305 (29-95) from the field and recorded just eight assists in Monday’s loss at New Orleans. Toronto did grab 20 offensive rebounds against the Pelicans and converted those into 24 second-chance points. The Raptors (13.2 OREB, 16.3 2ND PTS ) and Timberwolves (11.9
OREB, 15.4 2ND PTS) rank second and third, respectively, in the NBA in both offensive rebounds and second-chance points this season. Scottie Barnes currently leads all rookies with a team-high 119 offensive boards – the most by a Raptors rookie since Jonas Valanciunas (121) in 2012-13.
• Fred VanVleet has been named a reserve for the 2022 NBA All-Star Game, which will be played on Sunday, Feb. 20 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland. VanVleet becomes just the eighth player in franchise history to earn an All-Star selection. He is the first undrafted player in the NBA to be named an
All-Star since Ben Wallace in 2006. VanVleet will also compete in the MTN Dew 3-Point Contest.
• Sophomore Precious Achiuwa and rookie Scottie Barnes have been selected to participate in the 2022 Rising Stars, which will be played on Friday, Feb. 18 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland as part of NBA All-Star 2022. Toronto will have two players in the showcase event for the first time since Andrea
Bargnani and Jamario Moon in 2008. Barnes will also participate in the Taco Bell Skills Challenge.
PROBABLE STARTERS
F – SCOTTIE BARNES #4

MIN: 35.5 REB: 7.5 AST: 3.3 STL: 1.0 TO: 1.9 BLK: 0.8 PTS: 14.5
• Finished with five points, four rebounds and one block in 20 minutes Feb. 14 at New Orleans.
• Ranks first among rookies in minutes (35.5), third in rebounds (7.5), and fourth in points (14.5).
• Has scored 20+ points 10 times – the most by a Raptors rookie since Charlie Villanueva (12) in 2005-06.
F – OG ANUNOBY #3

MIN: 36.9 REB: 5.6 AST: 2.7 STL: 1.6 TO: 1.7 BLK: 0.6 PTS: 17.7
• Contributed three points, two rebounds and two assists in 25 minutes of action Feb. 14 at New Orleans.
• Has scored 20+ points in a single-season career-high 18 games; something he did 13 times last season.
• Averaging 18.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 20 games on the road.
C – PASCAL SIAKAM #43

MIN: 37.8 REB: 8.7 AST: 5.1 STL: 1.3 TO: 2.7 BLK: 0.7 PTS: 22.0
• Recorded 18 points, five rebounds and one assist in 33 minutes Feb. 14 at New Orleans.
• Toronto is 30-6 all-time, including 6-1 this season, when Siakam scores 30+ points.
• Leads the Raptors with 18 double-doubles – has matched his single-season career-high set in 2018-19.
G – GARY TRENT JR. #33

MIN: 34.8 REB: 2.6 AST: 1.9 STL: 1.9 TO: 1.0 BLK: 0.3 PTS: 18.3
• Tallied six points and grabbed one rebound in 28 minutes Feb. 14 at New Orleans.
• Ranks second in the NBA in steals per game (1.89) and fifth in total deflections (163).
• Has scored 30+ points in seven games, something he did three times in his first three seasons combined.
G – FRED VANVLEET #23

MIN: 38.4 REB: 4.6 AST: 7.0 STL: 1.6 TO: 2.7 BLK: 0.5 PTS: 21.6
• Scored a team-high 20 points Feb. 14 at New Orleans; added five rebounds and two assists in 31 minutes.
• Ranks second in the NBA in total deflections (194) and three-pointers made (201), and tied for sixth in steals (82).
• Leads the NBA in minutes per game (38.4) – has logged 40+ minutes in 15 games this season.

INJURY REPORT
Isaac Bonga (G League – On Assignment) – Out
David Johnson (G League – Two-Way) – Out
Fred VanVleet (Right Knee; Soreness) – TBD

GAME DETAILS
Opponent: Minnesota Timberwolves
Date: Wednesday, February 16
Tip-Off: 8 p.m. (ET)
Venue: Target Center
Television: TSN
Radio: Sportsnet 590 the FAN
SERIES RECAP VS. MINNESOTA
OVERALL HOME ROAD
2020-21 1-1 0-1 1-0
ALL-TIME 34-16 22-4 12-12
STREAKS Won 1 Lost 1 Won 3
LAST WIN: Feb. 19, 2021 (86-81)
LAST ROAD WIN: Feb. 19, 2021 (86-81)
LARGEST MARGIN OF VICTORY: +23 (Feb. 10, 2008)
LARGEST MARGIN OF DEFEAT: -32 (Mar. 19, 2002)
LAST TIME VS. MINNESOTA
GAME 30 – FEBRUARY 20, 2021
TORONTO 86, MINNESOTA 81
MINNEAPOLIS — Norman Powell scored a season-high 31 points and
the Toronto Raptors beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 86-81, closing the
game with an 11-0 run … Toronto earned its third straight win … Fred
VanVleet had 12 points and seven rebounds, while Pascal Siakam added
10 points and nine boards … Karl-Anthony Towns led Minnesota with 19
points and 13 rebounds … Malik Beasley scored 13 and Jordan McLaughlin had 11 … After trailing by as many as 19, the Wolves clawed their way
back into the game with a 16-0 run midway through the third quarter …
Jake Layman had a dunk and a 3-pointer during the stretch, which tied the
game at 57 … Rookie Anthony Edwards added a long jumper and a vicious dunk as part of a three-point play, helping Minnesota to a 64-58 lead
heading into the fourth … Minnesota led 81-75 with 3:30 to play when
Toronto took over … VanVleet hit a pair of free throws, Powell scored on
a transition layup, and Siakam threw down a tying dunk … On Minnesota’s next possession, Towns was called for a moving screen, and on the
other end, Terence Davis hit his third 3-pointer of the quarter to make it 84
-81 with 30 seconds to play … The Wolves had a chance to tie it, but
Beasley’s 3-pointer was short, and Davis hit two free throws for Toronto …
Playing a second straight game without point guard Kyle Lowry (sprained
thumb), the Raptors dominated the first half, thanks in part to Minnesota’s
cold shooting … At one point the Wolves missed 18 straight 3-pointers.
1 2 3 4 TOT
TORONTO 28 17 13 28 86
MINNESOTA 15 20 29 17 81

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Boston is the hottest team in the league thanks to their elite defense.

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The Lakers don’t need to spend more but need to spend what they have more wisely.

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MAPLE LEAFS 6, KRAKEN 2

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (31-12-3 – 65 Points) at
SEATTLE KRAKEN (16-29-4 – 36 Points)
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2022
1 2 3 FINAL
TORONTO 3 1 2 6
SEATTLE 1 0 1 2
ON THE SCORESHEET

  • Alexander Kerfoot scored for Toronto at 3:56 of the first period. Kerfoot recorded his seventh goal of the season.
  • Michael Bunting scored for the Maple Leafs at 11:06 of the first period. Bunting recorded his 15th goal of the season. Bunting also posted the primary assist on Kaše’s power play goal. Bunting recorded his 17th assist of the season.
  • Ondřej Kaše scored on a Toronto power play opportunity at 14:03 of the first period. Kaše recorded his 10th goal of the season. Kaše has scored in back-to-back games.
  • Mitch Marner scored on a Maple Leafs power play opportunity at 9:15 of the second period. Marner recorded his 17th goal of the season. With his second period goal, Marner recorded the 400th point of his NHL career. Marner also registered the secondary assist on Bunting’s goal and the primary assist
    on Kämpf’s shorthanded goal. Marner has posted 26 assists this season.
  • David Kämpf scored shorthanded for Toronto at 3:37 of the third period. Kämpf recorded his sixth goal of the season. Kämpf posted the second shorthanded goal of his NHL career.
  • Jake Muzzin scored for the Maple Leafs at 18:19 of the third period. Muzzin recorded his second goal of the season.
  • John Tavares registered the primary assist on Kerfoot’s goal. Tavares posted his 28th assist of the season. Tavares is currently on a four-game assist streak where he has recorded five assists.
  • Timothy Liljegren recorded the secondary assist on Kerfoot’s goal as well as the primary assist on Muzzin’s goal. Liljegren has registered nine assists this season. Liljegren recorded the first multi-point game of his NHL career.
  • Auston Matthews posted the primary assist on Bunting’s goal and the secondary assist on Marner’s goal. Matthews has recorded 25 assists this season. Matthews is currently on an eight-game point streak where he has recorded 16 points (7G, 9A).
  • Jason Spezza recorded the secondary assist on Kaše’s power play goal. Spezza posted his eighth assist of the season.
  • William Nylander registered the primary assist on Marner’s power play goal and the secondary assist on Muzzin’s goal. Nylander has recorded 28 assists this season.
    SHOTS ON GOAL (5-on-5 in brackets)
    1st 2nd 3rd TOTAL
    TORONTO 11 (8) 8 (4) 6 (5) 25 (17)
    SEATTLE 6 (6) 8 (5) 11 (8) 25 (19)
    SHOT ATTEMPTS (5-on-5 in brackets)
    1st 2nd 3rd TOTAL
    TORONTO 19 (13) 14 (10) 13 (12) 46 (35)
    SEATTLE 15 (14) 24 (19) 19 (16) 58 (49)
    ON THE ROAD AGAIN
  • The Maple Leafs are 14-8-2 on the road this season.
  • Toronto’s all-time record is 1-0-0-0 in one game against the Seattle Kraken and 1-0-0-0 in one game
    played in Seattle.
  • Toronto is 15-6-2 against the Western Conference this season and 10-4-0 against the Pacific Division
    this season.
    MAPLE LEAFS LEADERS
    Shots 3 (Kerfoot, Kaše, Nylander)
    Shot Attempts 6 (Nylander)
    Faceoff Wins 11 (Tavares)
    Faceoff Win Percentage 79% (Tavares – 11 won, 3 lost)
    Hits 3 (Muzzin, Sandin)
    Blocked Shots 3 (Matthews, Brodie)
    Takeaways 2 (Spezza)
    TOI 23:40 (Rielly)
    Power Play TOI 1:39 (Marner, Matthews, Rielly, Nylander,
    Tavares)
    Shorthanded TOI 3:35 (Kerfoot)
    Shifts 28 (Rielly)
    5-on-5 Shot Attempt Percentage 55.56% (Kerfoot – 15 for, 12 against)
    RECORD WHEN…
  • The Maple Leafs were 2-for-2 on the power play and 3-for-4 on the penalty kill tonight.
  • Toronto is 20-4-1 when scoring the first goal of the game.
  • The Maple Leafs are 18-2-1 when leading after one period and 23-0-1 when leading after two periods.
  • The Maple Leafs are 3-2-1 in Monday games.
    OF NOTE…
  • Per NHL Stats, Mitchell Marner (120-280—400) became the second player from the 2015 NHL Draft to record 400 career points, joining Connor McDavid (218-419—637). The only player drafted after 2015 to reach the milestone is Marner’s teammate Auston Matthews (231-177—408).
  • Per NHL Stats, Mitchell Marner (120-280—400 in 392 GP) recorded his 400th career point and tied Rick Valve for the fifth-fewest games needed to hit the mark in franchise history, trailing Doug Gilmour (342 GP), Auston Matthews (372 GP), Mats Sundin (385 GP) and Syl Apps (387 GP).
  • Alexander Kerfoot and Rasmus Sandin were on the ice for a team-high 15 Toronto shot attempts for at 5-on-5.
  • Alexander Kerfoot finished the game with a team-high 5-on-5 shot attempt percentage of 55.56 percent (15 for, 12 against).
    UPCOMING GAMES:
    Feb. 17 Leafs vs. Pittsburgh Scotiabank Arena 7:00 pm ET
    Feb. 19 Leafs vs. St. Louis Scotiabank Arena 7:00 pm ET
    Feb. 21 Leafs at Montreal Bell Centre 7:00 pm ET
    Feb. 22 Leafs at Columbus Nationwide Arena 7:00 pm ET
    Feb. 24 Leafs vs. Minnesota Scotiabank Arena 7:00 pm ET
    Feb. 26 Leafs at Detroit Little Caesars Arena 7:30 pm ET

    POSTGAME QUOTES:
    HEAD COACH SHELDON KEEFE
    On tonight’s win:
    “I thought we were elite on special teams. I thought we had a real potential advantage coming into the game tonight and it played out that way. The plan put forth by Spencer and Dean on both the power play and the penalty kill and then the execution of the players was high-level today, especially on the power play. It was fun to watch. So, that really set us up to win the hockey game. We made good on the chances that we got in around the net and there’s lots in the game that I didn’t like, and then I thought
    Seattle did a good job against us. I liked a lot about the third period, especially the last half of it. A good game to finish the road trip off the right way. Let’s go home.”
    MITCH MARNER
    On tonight’s win    :
    “I thought we were good. Special teams obviously a big part of that win. I thought we got away from our game a little bit there in the second. Didn’t play how we wanted to, too many turnovers and stuff like that
    but I think that third period is how we want to finish out games. Be relentless on pucks, be on our toes, playing on the forecheck and not giving them a whole lot.”
    ALEXANDER KERFOOT
    On tonight’s win:
    “It’s great to end this road trip off with a win. Obviously, it didn’t go the way we wanted it to, but it was a great response coming here. You never want to come out empty handed so I thought we did the job tonight and we closed it out pretty well in third period in not giving them much.”
    JACK CAMPBELL
    On tonight’s win:
    “The team played a complete game. Seattle has a lot of speed. Fun to play them and see what they’ve got. Great building. I thought our guys came out and just played a great game.”
    On Marner’s assist on Kämpf’s shorthanded goal:
    “He’s a tough player to defend and thankfully I don’t have to worry about that, he’s on our team. Just an incredible player, incredible teammate and incredible play.

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MAPLE LEAFS-KRAKEN PREGAME NOTES



2021-22 Matchups vs. Seattle: First of Two
Next Game vs. Seattle: Tuesday, March 8 vs. Seattle
Toronto Season Record: 30-12-3
Toronto Road Record: 13-8-2
TV: Sportsnet RADIO: Sportsnet 590

RECENT TRANSACTIONS
January 28, 2022
Defenceman Carl Dahlstrom has been assigned to the Maple Leafs taxi
squad from the Toronto Marlies (AHL).
January 28, 2022
Defenceman Alex Biega has been reassigned to the Marlies from the
Maple Leafs taxi squad.
January 24, 2022
Forward Joey Anderson, defenceman Carl Dahlstrom and goaltender
Erik Kallgren have be reassigned to the Toronto Marlies (AHL) from the
Maple Leafs taxi squad.
January 22, 2022
Goaltender Erik Kallgren has been reassigned to the Maple Leafs taxi
squad from the Toronto Marlies (AHL).

LAST GAME
Score: Toronto 2 at Vancouver 3
Date: Saturday, February 12, 2022
TOR Goals: Matthews, Kaše
VAN Goals: Miller, Boeser, Lammikko
TOR Goaltender: Mrazek, 21/24, .875 SV%
VAN Goaltender: Demko, 51/53, .962 SV%
TOR Power Play: 2-for-3
TOR Penalty Kill: 4-for-5

NEXT GAME
Date: Thursday, February 17, 2022
Opponent: vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Time: 7:00 pm ET
Broadcast Information: Sportsnet (TV), Sportsnet 590 (Radio)

2021-22 AVERAGES AND RANKINGS
Points % GF/Game GA/Game PP% PK% SF/G SA/G FO%
Toronto .700 3.53 2.71 30.5% 84.1% 35.0 30.5 55.9%
Seattle .375 2.63 3.46 15.4% 76.0% 28.5 28.2 48.5%

THE MAN ADVANTAGE IN 2021-22
Power Play: 39/128 (30.5%)
Power Play Goal Leader: 12 – Matthews
Power Play Point Leader: 21 – Matthews (12G, 9A)
2020-21 Power Play: 31/155 (20.0%)

ON THE PK IN 2021-22
Penalty Kill: 106/126 (84.1%)
Shorthanded Goal Leader: 2 – Marner, Mikheyev
Shorthanded Point Leader: 2 – Marner (2G), Mikheyev (2G), Brodie (2A), Kerfoot (2A)
2020-21 Penalty Kill: 113/144 (78.5%)

FAST FACTS
Monday games 6th of 10 (3 home, 7 road)
Back-to-Backs played 7 of 13
Record in first game of back-to-back 4-2-1
Record in second game of back-to-back 3-4-0
February games 5th of 12 (4 home, 8 road)
UPCOMING MILESTONES

TJ Brodie Nine points away from 300 career NHL points
Mitch Marner Two points away from 400 career NHL points
Mitch Marner Nine games away from 400 career NHL games played
Jake Muzzin 10 points away from 300 career NHL points
Wayne Simmonds 10 games away from 1,000 career NHL games played

RECENT MILESTONES
TJ Brodie Appeared in his 700th career NHL game, Nov. 2, 2021 vs. VGK
TJ Brodie Scored his 50th career NHL goal, Dec. 14, 2021 at EDM
Jack Campbell Appeared in his 100th career NHL game, Nov. 16, 2021 vs. NSH
Pierre Engvall Appeared in his 100th career NHL game, Nov. 2, 2021 vs. VGK
Ondrej Kaše Recorded his 100th career NHL point, Nov. 10, 2021 at PHI
Ondrej Kaše Scored his 50th career NHL goal, Dec. 9, 2021 vs. TBL
Alexander Kerfoot Appeared in his 300th career NHL game, Nov. 26, 2021 at SJS
Alexander Kerfoot Recorded his 100th career NHL assist, Jan. 1, 2022 vs. OTT
Timothy Liljegren Scored his first career NHL goal, Jan. 15, 2022 at STL
Auston Matthews Recorded his 400th career NHL point, Jan. 31, 2022 vs. NJD
Auston Matthews Recorded his 200th career NHL goal, Oct. 25, 2021 at CAR
Ilya Mikheyev Skated in his 100th career NHL game, Jan. 15, 2022 at STL
William Nylander Skated in his 400th career NHL game, Feb. 1, 2022 at NJD
William Nylander Recorded his 300th career NHL point, Jan. 19, 2022 at NYR
Morgan Rielly Recorded his 250th career NHL assist, Oct. 27, 2021 at CHI
Morgan Rielly Skated in his 600th career NHL game, Dec. 9, 2021 vs. TBL
Wayne Simmonds Skated in his 950th career NHL game, Oct. 16, 2021 vs. OTT
Jason Spezza Skated in his 1,200th career NHL game, Nov. 28, 2021 at ANA
John Tavares Recorded his 200th point with the Maple Leafs, Oct. 18, 2021 vs. NYR
John Tavares Scored his 100th goal with the Maple Leafs, Nov. 13, 2021 at BUF
John Tavares Skated in his 900th career NHL game, Jan. 1, 2022 vs. OTT

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